ROLLING: Seven people in waist high flood water

THURSDAY 10.08pm: LISMORE Mayor Isaac Smith has issued the following statement to residents.

It is becoming very clear that we are going to a major flood event in Lismore.

This means the levee will overtop and the whole Lismore basin will flood. The levee was built to overtop at 10.6m but given the rate of water rise it could overtop when the lismore rowing club gauge shows 10.3.

Please do not wait till tomorrow to evacuate the Lismore CBD, North Lismore or South Lismore as you may need to be rescued.

Keep an eye on updates overnight from SES and council.

UPDATE, 6pm: SEVEN people are stuck in waist high water at Goolmangar on Nimbin Rd after reportedly attempting to drive through floodwaters.

SES spokesman Brent Hunter said at this stage a boat was being sought to assist the stricken party.

Across the Richmond-Tweed region here are now 18 simultaneous flood rescues.

UPDATE, 3.20pm: AN EMERGENCY is unfolding at Terania Creek where five people are stranded in a paddock between two areas of rising floodwater.

An SES spokeswoman said crews were unable to access the area and a helicopter would be required. However, the SES helicopter is currently unable to fly due to dangerous flying conditions.

Five other flood rescues are still ongoing across the region, including at The Channon, Goolmangar, Uki, and Chillingham.

SES crews have responded to 25 flood rescue call outs today.

Almost all of them relate to people stuck in their vehicles in floodwaters.

In total there has been 563 requests for assistance.

UPDATE, 1pm: STATE Emergency Service crews are dealing with a spike in flood rescue requests north of Lismore and as rain continues to hammer the region.